The Philippines’ President Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos Jr, to arrive in New Delhi on August 4. This will be the first trip of the President since assuming office in 2022, in spite of the two countries having good relationships. His visit is regarding the first bilateral naval exercise in the South China Sea.
In a statement by the Ministry of External Affairs on Thursday, it was told that Marcos Junior will be visiting India at Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s invitation for a four-day visit. During this time, Marcos Junior will hold talks with President Droupadi Murmu, Pradhan PM Modi, Union Health Minister JP Nadda, and External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar. The meeting with Jaishankar on August 4 will be followed by a visit to the Raj Ghat the very next day. After that, the President will proceed towards a dialogue with PM in Hyderabad House where the Indian and Philippines governments will sign several agreements.
After this, Marcos Junior will hold talks with JP Nadda and travel to Bengaluru to meet the Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot.
India and the Philippines began the two-day bilateral maritime cooperative activity on Saturday in the waters close to the Scarborough Shoal. The shoal is the tension point in the maritime dispute between China and the Philippines. India is reportedly joining the maritime efforts because the country shares concerns about China’s growing maritime power in the South China Sea.
The diplomatic relations between the two countries, India and the Philippines, were established in November 1949. President Marcos Junior’s state visit coincides with the 75th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic relations. According to the MEA statement, India’s relations with the Philippines were an integral pillar of its Act East Policy, vision MAHASAGAR, and its vision of the Indo-Pacific. This visit is also the opportunity for both the leaders to set a path for future bilateral cooperation, especially concerning maritime security in the South China Sea.